Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
About
Dunblane Cathedral is a beautiful medieval church in Dunblane which dates as far back as the 12th century. Dunblane Cathedral receives high but well earned praise for a building smaller than some English parish churches, lacking the architectural flourishes and cohesion of most other cathedrals; and one which only narrowly survived the threat of demolition to make way for the railway. The tower is from the late 11th century, offset, and slightly squint on the south. Admire the Romanesque arched windows in the lower storeys, the upper stage and parapet which date from 1500, bearing the arms of Bishop Chisholm, which may originally have been freestanding. The Nave, dating back to 1240 is possibly the finest part of the cathedral.
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Best nearby
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30 within 5 kms
Attractions
100 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Tracy TFife, United Kingdom132 contributionsAmazingA stunning Cathedral - excellent tour guide. beautifully restored with artefacts from throughout the ages. Well preserved and good to know that the cathedral is still used as a place of worship regularly.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten March 14, 2024
- Dorota D27 contributionsBeautiful place, not to be missedThat was our second visit in Cathedral. We always wanted to be back, as this place is truly beautiful. Lucky enough to have a sunny weather, so we could enjoy light coming through stained windows. A lot of beautiful wooden carvings and great atmosphere. Very friendly and helpful staff. Free entry (donations welcome) and free parking. Place not to be missed when in Dunblane.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten March 25, 2024
- Jane PIpswich, United Kingdom518 contributionsQuietly reverentDunblane was very quiet when we visited on a Monday afternoon on May. There is a free car park to the side of the cathedral which was easy to find. We were warmly welcomed as we arrived and given an overview of the building and its history by the steward on duty. One of our reasons for wanting to visit here was to see the memorial to the primary school children and their teacher who were killed back in 1996. Although it was nearly 30 years ago, it was an event that many of our generation will remember all too clearly.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten May 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
632 reviews
Excellent
437
Very good
165
Average
22
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Charlotte
London, UK49 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We booked in advance and received a warm welcome on a rainy day. The staff are extremely welcoming, knowledgeable and were very happy to answer all our questions. There is a small but well stocked shop which we bought a few things from. The history of the building is fascinating, the Victorian woodwork in this Cathedral is absolutely stunning (look out for the carved flora and fauna including camels, fighting dragons, bats and thistles!) and the stained glass really is some of the finest C19th and C20th we have seen. The guidebook (cheap as chips and a further reduction for HistoricEnvironmentScotland members!) is well worth purchasing, both to use whilst walking around but as a souvenir with some wonderful photos and highlights.
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ElaineAndGreg
Chesterland, OH3,091 contributions
Aug 2022
Dunblane Cathedral is the main attraction in the town and it is hard to miss as it is also pretty much the centerpiece. We found parking on the square, but there is also a nearby parking lot.
The Cathedral was originally built in the 1200s, fell into ruin several hundred years later, and was renovated beginning in the late 1800s. The area was never all that prosperous, so while the exterior is impressive in terms of size, there is not much decoration on the outside
For us what made the visit worthwhile was all of the wonderful stained glass windows from the late 1800s to about 1920. Some appear to be more traditional, but many have an Art-Nouveau feel. One in the chancel/choir appears to commemorate the failed Scott expedition to the South Pole.
Speaking of the choir, take a look at the animal carvings on the seats. There is even a misericord of a bat.
Admission was free if I recall, but they ask for a modest donation. There was no guide per se, but the person there was extremely knowledgeable about the church and its artwork and was happy to show us some of the highpoint.
Unfortunately, the cemetery is largely closed, ostensibly due to safety reasons, with a fence all around it.
If you are at all a Monty Python fan, Doune Castle, where much of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was filmed is only a few miles to the west.
This is still an active church - there was a wedding taking place immediately after our visit.
This is an easy stop for a striking interior and beautiful stained glass artwork.
The Cathedral was originally built in the 1200s, fell into ruin several hundred years later, and was renovated beginning in the late 1800s. The area was never all that prosperous, so while the exterior is impressive in terms of size, there is not much decoration on the outside
For us what made the visit worthwhile was all of the wonderful stained glass windows from the late 1800s to about 1920. Some appear to be more traditional, but many have an Art-Nouveau feel. One in the chancel/choir appears to commemorate the failed Scott expedition to the South Pole.
Speaking of the choir, take a look at the animal carvings on the seats. There is even a misericord of a bat.
Admission was free if I recall, but they ask for a modest donation. There was no guide per se, but the person there was extremely knowledgeable about the church and its artwork and was happy to show us some of the highpoint.
Unfortunately, the cemetery is largely closed, ostensibly due to safety reasons, with a fence all around it.
If you are at all a Monty Python fan, Doune Castle, where much of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was filmed is only a few miles to the west.
This is still an active church - there was a wedding taking place immediately after our visit.
This is an easy stop for a striking interior and beautiful stained glass artwork.
Written August 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pindle2015
Edinburgh, UK20 contributions
Feb 2020
I do not go to churches or cathedrals for the religious experience being an agnostic but I can appreciate other people’s experience and I love to experience the aesthetics and beauty of such places particularly the feeling of peace they can bring to me. This is a wonderful place. I was unaware ( my ignorance I know) that there was a stone pillar/ monument to the Dunblane school massacre, which I found very moving and also quite beautifully done. The age of the Cathedral surprised me essentially going back to the 11th century and aside from the lovely stained glass windows with all their history, the wood carvings are stunning, including little dogs heads on the arms of the pews near the altar. Go visit and contribute. They need the money.
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cmdevlin64
Washington DC, DC417 contributions
Oct 2021
The tour of the cathedral incorporates all of its present use, its history as a Church of Scotland congregation, and its storied medieval roots. The explanations were clear and the the location and building are stunning. Be sure to take a good look at the bell tower, the oldest part of the building and stop at the standing stone that is a memorial to the children and teacher who died in 1996. Note that many of the gravestones around the cathedral are unstable and blocked off for visitor safety.
Written October 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScottishTemplar
Edinburgh, UK1,737 contributions
Mar 2021 • Friends
What a stunning and huge Cathedral! Impressive from the outside and just as memorable inside. The ceiling is lovely and one admires the skills that went into creating the building and ornaments. Light streams into the Cathedral from all angles, especially the great stained glass windows. A peaceful, holy place. A must see when in the area.
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mrs A.S
5 contributions
Jul 2023
This is a very beautiful Cathedral, with amazing stained glass from the Arts & Crafts era. We had a short and informative talk from a guide when we arrived, and then we were able to look around on our own. There is a tiny and peaceful separate chapel, where I sat for some time. Another highlight was the fabulous carved wooden animals on the end of some of the pews. There are many ancient and interesting carved stones and crypts all around the sides of the main aisle. At one point the sun shone through the stained glass by the high altar, and colours on the stone pillars were fabulous.
The monument to the children from the Dunblane shooting is heart-breakingly beautiful, and we took time to explain to the younger people in our party what had happened in 1996.
The monument to the children from the Dunblane shooting is heart-breakingly beautiful, and we took time to explain to the younger people in our party what had happened in 1996.
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roger G
Glasgow, UK2,834 contributions
Mar 2022
Friendly and helpful staff. The 'local historian' guide was very knowledgeable and answered questions with enthusiasm and insight. A very well cared for monument but the very odd fencing around the gravestones points to the over cautious world we now live in. What does it cost! Seems to be standard now for historic buildings - Kelso Abbey, Old Daily Kirk, Maybole Collegiate Church, Crossraguel, etc, etc.
Lovely and exceptional art work by Helen Lamb. A very moving Dunblane Tragedy memorial.
Lovely and exceptional art work by Helen Lamb. A very moving Dunblane Tragedy memorial.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane P
Ipswich, UK518 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Dunblane was very quiet when we visited on a Monday afternoon on May. There is a free car park to the side of the cathedral which was easy to find.
We were warmly welcomed as we arrived and given an overview of the building and its history by the steward on duty.
One of our reasons for wanting to visit here was to see the memorial to the primary school children and their teacher who were killed back in 1996. Although it was nearly 30 years ago, it was an event that many of our generation will remember all too clearly.
We were warmly welcomed as we arrived and given an overview of the building and its history by the steward on duty.
One of our reasons for wanting to visit here was to see the memorial to the primary school children and their teacher who were killed back in 1996. Although it was nearly 30 years ago, it was an event that many of our generation will remember all too clearly.
Written May 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chrisgale
Sheffield, UK1,193 contributions
Sept 2020 • Solo
You need to book to go in under the current circumstances. This proved a bit difficult as website didn't confirm booking and some people couldn't access it. Had to email to ask for confirmation. Free car park at back of Cathedral. Staff were very friendly and I had a short history talk and the could wander around . Beautiful windows. No charge but you can leave a contactless donation. Easy to walk into Dunblane afterwards. Well worth a visit
Written September 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elle L
Aberdeen, UK34 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
Absolutely stunning historical building! Due to Covid-19, we needed to book tickets online but this was really easy to do! The staff were lovely and really knowledgeable about the building. We were able to wander around ourselves and take it all in. It's absolutely beautiful! We'd recommend a visit to Dunblane Cathedral to anyone visiting the area!
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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